Raspberry plant named ‘Dafne’

ABSTRACT

A new a primocane raspberry cultivar named ‘Dafne’ which produces glossy, strong red firm fruits is disclosed, with berries which are easy to pick due to low adherence to the plug. The new cultivar has the advantages of producing two crops per year, wherein the fruits equally ripen on the current season&#39;s cane in autumn and on the previous year&#39;s cane in summer.

Genus and species: Rubus idaeus L.

Variety denomination: ‘Dafne’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

A new and distinct cultivar of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.)hereinafter referred to by the cultivar denomination ‘Dafne’ isdisclosed. The new variety ‘Dafne’ was obtained from open pollination ofthe variety ‘Amaranta’ (mother plant) (not patented) and an unknownfather plant pollen.

The crossing for the new cultivar occurred in year 2012 in Altopianodella Vigolana (Trento-Italy) and it was subjected to selection in 2013,and successively tested until 2017. The characteristics of the newcultivar have been found stable and have been transmitted without changethrough succeeding (more than 5 years) asexual propagations by rootcutting.

Plant breeder's rights were applied for with the European Union on Jan.18, 2018. ‘Dafne’ has not been made publicly available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the cultivar‘Dafne’ are hereunder reported.

-   -   Primocane raspberry plant;    -   Good fruit colour and flavour;    -   Glossy strong red firm fruit;    -   Easy to pick up (low adherence to plug).

The new variety produces two crops per year and the fruits mainly ripenon current season's cane in autumn.

The new variety can be propagated by: the use of suckers produced in aspawn-bed, root cutting and use of tissue culture techniques. The rootcutting is to be preferred.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The new red raspberry cultivar ‘Dafne’ is illustrated by theaccompanying photographs showing typical specimens of the new variety incolour as true as reasonably possible to make the same colourillustrations of this character by conventional photographic procedures.The photographs are of plants that are from four to six months old.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the upright, tall and vigorous raspberry plantsduring the flowering.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the leaf upper and lower surfaces.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the plant primocane internode length, canecolour and thorns.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the ripe fruit size and shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of the new variety ‘Dafne’. The performance of the newcultivar for retention of its distinctive characteristics has beenevaluated through successive asexual propagations by root cutting in theApplicant's setting in Altopiano della Vigolana, Trentino Region (Italy)under natural conditions in plastic covered high tunnels. The growingwas in soilless conditions using coir as substrate.

The plant assessment was performed for 2 years. Botanical descriptionsare for plants 16-18 months old.

* Colour references made to R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (Edition V)

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus idaeus L.        -   Common name.—Raspberry.-   Parentage: ‘Amaranta’ (mother) x unknown pollen (father).-   Plant:    -   -   General habit.—Upright canes; strong vigor; very good roots            system; adapted to medium winter chill conditions such as            those at Altopiano della Vigolana (average min temperature            1° C.; average max temperature 5° C.); quite resilient to            summer heat (average min temperature 13° C.; average max            temperature 27° C.). Suitable for being harvested both on            current year's cane in autumn and on previous year's cane in            summer.        -   Average height (average).—1.70-1.80 m.        -   Spread (average).—0.80 m.        -   Shape.—Conical.        -   Vegetative bud length.—6.0-8.0 mm.-   Primocane:    -   -   Length (average).—1.70-1.80 m.        -   Diameter (average).—1.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Internode length (average) at 1 m height.—5-6 cm.        -   Number of fruiting laterals per cane (average).—9.        -   Number of current season's shoots.—Medium.        -   Young shoot colour.—*RHS:144A.        -   Cane colour.—*RHS: N144C.        -   Spines.—Present.-   Floricane:    -   -   Dormant cane colour.—*RHS: 72A.        -   Fruiting lateral attitude in summer.—Semi erect.-   Spines:    -   -   Shape.—‘Shark fin’.        -   Size (average).—1.50-1.70 mm.        -   Density (average) at 1.2 m height.—2.3- 2.5 cm².        -   Colour.—*RHS N77A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaves.—Shape: compound; odd-pinnate and subdivided in 3            cordate and serrate. Profile in cross section: slightly            convex. Rugosity: medium. Complete leaft: Length: 34.2 cm.            Width: 31.5 cm. Upper surface colour *RHA 141A. Lower            surface colour *RHS 147D. Lateral leaflets: specular.            Lateral leaflets average size: length: 15.4 cm. Width:            11.2 cm. Lateral leaflets apex shape: pointed. Lateral            leaflets base shape: ovate. Lateral leaflets margin type:            serrate. Terminal leaflets average size: length: 16.9 cm.            width: 14.5 cm. Terminal leaflets apex shape: pointed.            Terminal leaflets base shape: cordate. Terminal leaflets            margin type: serrate.        -   Petiole.—Average length: 10.8 cm. Average diameter: 0.5 cm.            Colour: *RHS 143D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Average length.—40.5 cm.        -   Average diameter.—33 cm.-   Flowers:    -   -   Number per plant (average).—Primocane: 160. Floricane: 195.        -   Length (average).—9.66 mm.        -   Diameter (average).—34.79 mm.        -   Diameter (receptacle).—11.29 mm.        -   Shape.—Pentagonal.        -   Petal colour (upper surface).—*RHS: NN155C.        -   Petal colour (lower surface).—*RHS: NN155C.        -   Petal number (average).—5.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate. Apex: rounded. Base: cuneate. Margin:            entire.        -   Sepal number (average).—5. Colour (upper surface): *RHS:            144B. Colour (lower surface): *RHS: N144D. Length (average):            1.4 cm. Width (mid part): 0.7 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Blooming.—Primocane: July-August. Floricane: April-May.        -   Pedicel.—Length (average): 2.6 cm.-   Fruit:    -   -   Predominant shape.—Broad conical.        -   Weight.—6.3 g.        -   Size.—Length: 2.3 cm. width: 2.6 cm.        -   Colour of ripe fruit.—*RHS: 50A.        -   Colour of immature fruit.—*RHS: 52D.        -   Firmness.—Firm (0.05 Kg).        -   Drupes per fruit (average).—140.        -   Drupe size.—Length: 4.07 mm. width: 3.5 mm. depth: 6.2 mm.        -   Glossiness.—High.        -   Adherence to plug.—Low.        -   Titratable acidity.—32.00 meq/hg.        -   Soluble solids.—9° Brix.        -   Harvest season.—Primocane: August to October. Floricane:            half June-end July.        -   Autumn yield.—4 kg/m (4 plants/m).        -   Summer yield.—4.9 kg/m (4 plants/m).        -   Use/market.—Suitable for consumption as high grade fresh            fruit and also amenable to processing.        -   Keeping quality.—The fruit colour tends to become darker            during storage, but the high glossiness makes it attractive.        -   Storage capacity (shelf life).—Very good shelf-life.        -   Shipping quality.—Good; the attitude to storability permits            shipping.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil number per flower (average).—151.        -   Pistil size (average).—5.70 mm.        -   Stamen number per flower (average).—150.        -   Stamen size (average).—5.23 mm.-   Seeds:    -   -   Size (average).—Length: 2.83 mm. width: 1.71 mm.        -   Shape.—Kidney-shaped.

Comparison with Commercial Cultivar

TABLE 1 Comparison table between variety and commercial cultivar Evita(U.S. Plant Pat, No. 25,695) and ‘Lagorai Plus’(U.S. Plant Pat. No.25,636) ‘LAGORAI Characteristic ‘EVITA’ PLUS’ ‘DAFNE’ fruit color Orangered Strong red strong red Fruit: glossiness low medium high Fruit shapeelongated conical, conical broad conical, slight irregular very regularvery regular Fruit picking Slight difficult Very easy very easy Autumnyield high low medium Summer yield high medium Dormant cane purple-brownmoderate greyish-purple colour brown

TABLE 2 Comparison table between variety and the female parent‘Amaranta’ ‘Amaranta’ (female Characteristic parent) ‘Dafne’ Fruit colorMedium red Strong red Fruit shape elongated conical Broad conical, veryregular Fruit firmness Soft to medium firm Autumn yield Medium to highmedium Summer yield low medium Fruit: glossiness Low high

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of raspberry plant assubstantially herein shown and described.